Practical Test Explained

The Practical Driving Test

The driving test was developed to assess a person’s ability to drive in a variety of road and traffic conditions while, at the same time, demonstrating a good level of understanding of the Highway Code.

Your driving test will last about forty minutes. The examiner is looking for an overall safe standard of driving. You will obtain a “pass” with fifteen or less driving faults and no “serious” or “dangerous” marks against your drive.

How faults are marked

A driving fault is one that is not potentially dangerous; however, if the same fault is continually made during the test then this may result in a “serious fault”.

A serious fault is something that is potentially dangerous

A dangerous fault involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property

The test

At the beginning of the test the Driving Examiner will introduce them self and ask you to sign their paperwork.

You will then be asked if you want your instructor to accompany you on the test; your instructor takes no part in the test, is there only to observe and must sit behind the driver’s seat.

Before you get into the car you will be asked to read the number plate of a car approximately twenty metres away.

Once completed, you will begin the drive following directions given by the examiner.

There are four manoeuvres; a parallel park, a bay park, a reverse round a corner and a turn in the road. You will be asked to perform one of these and possibly an emergency stop.

You will also complete a ten minute “independent drive” which assesses your ability to drive on your own without directions from the examiner, for example, you will be asked to follow signs to “the town centre”. If you need to ask where to go during the drive, this is not a problem as long as you do so in good time. Deviation from the route will not affect the result as long as no driving faults are committed.

At the end of the test the examiner will ask you to wait while they complete their paperwork, then tell you if you have been successful or unsuccessful and give you a debrief about your drive.

Preparation for your driving test

At Time2pass we help you prepare both mentally and physically with the help of mock tests, thorough preparation and planning. This will ensure you know exactly what to expect, can perform all of the manoeuvres and an emergency stop and are able to drive independently and confidently.